Newsroom

Cross-Border Travelers Are Reminded of Kinder Egg Ban

Release Date:

March 23, 2012

St. Albans, Vt. -U.S. Customs and Border Protection would like to proactively remind importers and the traveling public that Kinder Surprise Eggs, a popular chocolate treat, is banned from import into the United States not only during the upcoming Easter holiday season, but throughout the year as well.

Kinder Surprise Eggs, a popular chocolate treat, is banned from import into the United States not only during the upcoming Easter holiday season, but throughout the year as well.

Kinder Surprise Eggs are hollow milk chocolate eggs about the size of a large hen's egg usually packaged in a colorful foil wrapper. They are a popular treat and collector's item during holiday periods in various countries around the world, including those in Europe, South America and even Canada. A toy within the egg is contained in an oval-shaped plastic capsule. The toy requires assembly and each egg contains a different toy. Many of the toys that have been tested by the Consumer Product Safety Commission in the past were determined to present a choking hazard for young children and has been determined that this product fails to meet small parts requirements for children less than three years of age.

As such, the Food and Drug Administration issued an import alert for Kinder Eggs, since they are a non-nutritive confectionery product with an object imbedded in it. As in years past, CBP, the Food and Drug Administration and CPSC work in close collaboration to ensure the safety of imported goods by examining, sampling and testing products that may present such import safety hazards. These partner agencies are working along-side one another to streamline and enhance federal efforts to address import safety issues, such as the illegal importation of Kinder Eggs. For more information on import alert 34-02, please visit the FDA website.

"The trend in personal use Kinder Egg seizures in Vermont is on the rise and this chocolate egg isn't just prevalent during the holidays anymore," said Assistant Area Port Director James McMillan. "In fact, CBP officers in St. Albans have seized Kinder Eggs in 38 separate incidents in 2011 alone from cross-border travelers and our officers have been seeing more and more of these particular seizures throughout the year."

McMillan further said, "With the holidays upon us, this is a great opportunity to remind travelers of the illegal importation of Kinder Eggs and the safety implications the 'surprise' toys pose to children less than three years of age."

Travelers are encouraged to visit the CBP Web site for useful information and publications such as "Know Before You Go" regarding what items travelers can legally bring into the United States or travelers may contact their local CBP office. For more information on traveling to and from the United States, please visit the "Know Before You Go" website. For more information on locating a CBP office, please visit the CBP website.

U.S. Customs and Border Protection is the unified border agency within the Department of Homeland Security charged with the management, control and protection of our nation's borders at and between the official ports of entry. CBP is charged with keeping terrorists and terrorist weapons out of the country while enforcing hundreds of U.S. laws.